You may be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of information that you have to learn as a beginner in photography. Aperture and shutter speed, metering modes, acronyms, F-Stops, etc. You might be tempted to put off one of the most important aspects of photography. This aspect is called composition.
Composition is the most difficult element to master. Others say you can’t teach composition, you either have it or don’t. I believe we all know it in some way. Here’s why.
When you see beauty, you are seeing composition
The “rules of composition” are based on centuries of artistic endeavour. They are all based on the things we observe in nature. The shape of a snowflake or leaf, the flow of a trunk, the fall of a fallen leaf on the first snows in winter.
leading line is the first thing we look at. symmetry, color contrast, and negative spaces are next.
I have put the words rules between quotes, because I call them guidelines. The guidelines were handed down by generations of artists who have all put their own interpretations on what they saw in nature. These guidelines are meant to help us create something beautiful that will appeal to both ourselves and others.
If there’s one rule for composition it is this. If you like it, then it’s probably good.
